It was suggested on last Sunday live grieve session via video that maybe I should create a thread relating to cancer. Cancer effects everyone and will continue to do so, either by loss or on a personal level. I lost a close friend a while ago to pancreatic cancer a while ago he was only 40 something when he passed. I lost my mum last August last year old age, dementia mum was 95. This June I myself was diagnosed with Myeloma Cancer. At the time I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse ? it’s not easy coping with loss and then Cancer it’s like the grim reaper has stepped into your life. While Myeloma there’s no cure it is treatable.
Yesterday I had my Pre Stem Cell Transplant meeting. I was told there was a 2 - 3 percent chance of death, if I was to get a infection I would be on a critical care ward. It’s just wears you down, I couldn’t give my consent yesterday. I was suppose to go into hospital in the 3rd of December but looks like this will be delayed now. Instead of helping cancer makes your life a misery and just adds to the depression maybe or emotional heart ache. What’s the point of Christmas when you are on your own and having to deal with cancer too Life is absolutely pointless. Whilst it may be a low risk to life regards me, it does not make life any easier going through this.
please feel free to add comment on here because I know I’m not alone with this.
Keith
I really feel for you that you have been diagnosed with Myeloma. My husband had it for nearly 11 years. He died with it, not of it, he was in full remission from it (his Myeloma count was normal) when he died of an infection.
Myeloma can be a very challenging remitting/relapsing cancer, but there have been tremendous advances in treatment options recently and many patients now get very long periods of remission. Some of the chemo regimes are just taking tablets at home. My husband had two stem cell transplants. Yes, absolutely they are scary and unpleasant, but they can bring about long periods of remission from the cancer, so you could think of it as an investment in a future period where you are free of it for hopefully a long time. There are tips that can help protect you from some of the potential side-effects like the mouth and throat problems, they advise sucking ice lollies when they give your stem cells back! My husband didn’t really get the throat problems either time. He actually just slept for a lot of the three weeks each time. You normally get a single room and it is very protected from infection.
I hope you have been in touch with Myeloma UK, the charity, they are an excellent charity and have loads of useful information. They have open days in big cities around the country which are a good way to meet other patients. There is an active Myeloma support group on Facebook too.
I wish you the very best.
Thank You I done a few meets at Maggie’s and am in contact with the group on WhatsApp. Person I saw on Monday seemed a little concerned to the fact I had a popped ulcer back in 2020. Think he said it would put me at risk of sepsis, which can be fatal.
Sorry about the loss of your husband, I hope you find some comfort from here.